Palestinian journalist and author Rula Jebreal issued an unconditional apology on Friday after calling House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) an 'AIPAC monkey' during a podcast interview. The remarks, made on Wajahat Ali’s The Left Hook podcast, drew immediate backlash from Democratic lawmakers, including the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), who condemned the language as racist.
Jebreal’s comments and subsequent apology
During the podcast, Jebreal criticized Jeffries’ support for Israel, stating: 'He is a bought-and-paid-for AIPAC monkey. With all due respect—and I don’t mean it in a racist way—he is just basically an errand boy.' She later clarified that she was referencing the three wise monkeys symbol, which represents seeing no evil, hearing no evil, and speaking no evil. The podcast host, Wajahat Ali, intervened to note that the term 'monkey' carries racial connotations, particularly when directed at a Black individual.
In a follow-up post on X (formerly Twitter), Jebreal wrote: 'I am disgusted and horrified that Hakeem Jeffries is taking money from AIPAC amidst Israel’s genocide in Palestine.' She added: 'That said, a term that I used to describe him was inappropriate and offensive and should never have been used.' Her apology came after widespread condemnation from Democratic leaders.
Democratic lawmakers condemn remarks
The Congressional Black Caucus issued a statement on X, rejecting Jebreal’s defense: 'To be clear, there isn’t a non-racist way to call Leader Jeffries—a Black man—a “monkey” or “errand boy.” This is what happens when we hold ourselves to such low standards for what’s allowable in our discourse—people get comfortable being openly bigoted.' The CBC also criticized the podcast host, Wajahat Ali, for platforming the remarks.
Several Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Richie Torres (D-NY), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), echoed the CBC’s condemnation. Torres stated: 'If Wajahat Ali and Rula Jebreal were on the far right, no one on the far left would have any trouble condemning them for dehumanizing a Black man in racist terms.' The lawmakers emphasized that the language used was inherently racist, regardless of intent.
Background on the dispute
Jebreal’s comments occurred amid heightened tensions over U.S. support for Israel, particularly following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas and the subsequent military response in Gaza. Jeffries, a prominent centrist Democrat, has been a vocal supporter of Israel, aligning with figures like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). In contrast, progressive Democrats, including New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have taken more critical stances toward Israel.
Jebreal, a former MSNBC foreign policy analyst, has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians. Her remarks on the podcast reflect broader divisions within the Democratic Party over U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.